Even if I were in the target market, the way the microphone icon is clipped by the screen edge/bezel in the first of the gallery images would make it a non-starter for me.

Poor attention to detail, IMHO.

I don't think it's clipped, I think that's the design.

I agree. Also, I find it a little weird that the design of a single on-screen icon would make the whole thing a non-starter for someone. Unless maybe Anadromous assumed everything would be clipped like that?

I mean, it is clipped by design. That being the case, presumably the design choice/language is trying to say something to me. And whatever it is, I'm not hearing it. Instead I feel like they just missed with the icon placement, but could not be bothered to fix it. Giving me a negative impression of the care and thought that went into the whole device.

Hey, Microsoft clips stuff on Windows Phone, their ads make it seem kind of edgy and cool, and we don't really have any ideas of our own, so let's clip the artwork too...

I don't know if I'm in a minority or majority here, but I'm kind of missing the point of a smartwatch. There doesn't seem to be anything that they can do that the cellphone in my pocket doesn't do better.

In early 2010, most people were missing the point of a tablet too. Look what's happened now.

Samsung's attempt is a huge meh for me, but that doesn't mean I won't find a point in other smartwatches in the future.

Back in 2010 if someone offered me a tablet for free I'd say "yeah, sure why not!". I'd play with it for a few hours and then forget about it. That hasn't changed. Tablets have their niches, but for the vast majority of us with a perfectly functioning smartphone, they're just another toy.

If someone offered me a smartwatch for free, I would politely decline. I gave up wearing a regular watch years ago. These things are bulky, ugly, and will undoubtedly give me a sexy watch-tan in summer. This old dinosaur sees neither any fun nor utility to be gleaned from smartwatches.

I don't know if I'm in a minority or majority here, but I'm kind of missing the point of a smartwatch. There doesn't seem to be anything that they can do that the cellphone in my pocket doesn't do better.

True, but I'd like to be able to check who's calling or messaging during a meeting, without checking my phone. Taking your phone out can be rude and distracting to others, but checking your watch is subtle enough to go unnoticed.

Just because no one notices you checking your smartwatch doesn't mean it's not rude.

Back in 2010 if someone offered me a tablet for free I'd say "yeah, sure why not!". I'd play with it for a few hours and then forget about it. That hasn't changed. Tablets have their niches, but for the vast majority of us with a perfectly functioning smartphone, they're just another toy.

LOL... back in 2010 someone did offer me a tablet for free. I still have it and I use it at least 4-5 hours a week.

That is not a watch.This http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/ruizclaudio/_sma163__1016_3_3.jpg is a random example of a watch [Random image search result, not my album].The article doesn't mention another huge drawback of this device (it's mentioned on tom's hardware): the screen turns itself off. How are you going to discretely check the time and notifications when you have to press something to turn the screen on first?

On the bright side, there's a recent flood of arm based devices that makes me think the hardware industry has a chance of becoming again as diverse and creative as back in the 8 bit era...

Back in the day when I started carrying a cell phone everywhere, it didn't take me long to realize that I could STOP wearing a watch. The cell freed me from wearing a watch and I'll be damned if I'm going to go back.

Watches are insidious, though useful, little devices. At first you wear a plastic Casio because it's functional and durable. Then your significant other gets you a Fossil for when you got to dinner. Next thing you know you're seriously considering a Tag Heuer and contemplating how many meters of submersibility you really need. "Yeah it's $1500 but it's good to 50m and it tells you the date!" If I hadn't stopped I'd probably be wearing a fucking Rolex by now.

I don't know if I'm in a minority or majority here, but I'm kind of missing the point of a smartwatch. There doesn't seem to be anything that they can do that the cellphone in my pocket doesn't do better.

True, but I'd like to be able to check who's calling or messaging during a meeting, without checking my phone. Taking your phone out can be rude and distracting to others, but checking your watch is subtle enough to go unnoticed.

I disagree. For me, looking at your watch is a sign of boredom and impatience. Checking your phone is not ideal, but it suggests that you are quickly looking at an important message before returning your attention to the person in front of you (provided you don't start texting away of course ... ).

When I got my first mobile phone, I pretty much stopped wearing watches. I grew up wearing cheap digital watches and always liked having one on my wrist, but I didn't see the point once i had a phone that replicated all the functionality of the watch, and more.

But a while ago, I started to really miss having a watch on my wrist. Getting a phone out to check the time is a huge hassle: open the holster, pull the phone out, light up the screen, check time, get distracted by notifications for messages/tweets/facebook/whatever and spend five minutes doing stuff on it.

So I ended up buying a nice analogue watch that shows the time (in 12 and 24-hour format!), the day and the date, and it has a cool mechanical section that's mostly for looks. It feels great having a watch on my wrist again, and now when I check the time it takes two seconds maximum.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want a smartwatch that has a purely analogue face.

I don't own a smartphone and I don't wear a watch. However, if I could get all the important features of my "dumbphone" in a watch (without needing to carry a phone), I might go for it.

It would look nothing like this, though. I need calling, SMS (receiving might suffice) and at least a week of battery life. A camera for taking notes would be nice, but non-essential. Make it work as a flash drive (or better yet micro-SD reader) and I can dump one more thing I carry around.

Another Pebble owner here. After several months, and what can only be described as a very rough first couple months of poor software, I can say that my Pebble has integrated very well in my life. It's just nice to feel the vibration on my wrist and quickly look down to see who's calling me, or who just texted me, without fumbling for my phone in my pocket. It's also great when running, and instead of twisting my arm to see my various stats, just turn my wrist to see my time and mileage.

That being said, I've got zero interest in this watch. As has been said, the price is just stupid, and is most likely the result of some kitchen sink design decision, with absolutely no one questioning how a smartphone accessory ended up being more expensive than the subsidized cost of the phone itself. A half-assed camera is just odd, considering how easy it is to quickly take a photo with a phone. A color screen falls in the "it's nice" category, but probably well worth tossing aside for price considerations. The battery life is just a joke. I used to think that a daily recharge would be okay. Then the first several months with my Pebble, where it would only last a few days made me decide that it really wasn't okay. Then again, that could just be the Pebble's piss-poor battery life indicator.

I have a coworker who is a diehard Samsung fan, and his first reaction to this today was to note that my watch has 3/4 the capabilities of this at 1/2 the price. That pretty much sums up why this seems to be destined for failure.

Now for the really, really bad news about the Galaxy Gear: it's only compatible with Samsung smartphones that run Android 4.3. That's pretty crippling.

True, but I also read this as good news - because if Samsung are really serious about making this thing succeed then they'll need to upgrade all the phones they've either sold recently or in big volumes to 4.3. Which would be nice for the S3, S3-mini and S2 users.

I did read somewhere though that this thing has a ten hour battery life. So if I put it on at 8am, it'll be dead by 6pm. I don't think someone at Samsung really thought that one through.

Contrary to the author's comments and those of some bloggers, I think the thick, jumbo design with bright plastic bands is awesomely suitable for the wrists of Galaxy phablet users and will totally impress their friends. No doubt we will see some Galaxy Girls wearing them as arm bracelets, and I imagine celebrity ads with Lindsey Lohan wearing one around her ankle.

Apple's will be thinner, simpler, more fashionable and have shorter battery life.

But probably not much more compelling.

Remember the guys that thought headsets made them awesome studs? They will be sporting all manner of watch phones.

Well, off to down-rate hell.

Umm you do realize the most of the galaxy devices are thinner then anything Apple has.....right? Oh wait. iTard. Never mind.

Are they planning to add those Frankenstein screws aka bolts to the Galaxy line?

I bought a Pebble 2wks ago at BB, I was worried I would regret not waiting on the new smartwatches. Now I'm relieved. My pebble is much better for what I want than this or other Smartwatches I've seen. Correct time w/o having to set your watch, waterproof, no missed calls, outside temp all the time, easy to recharge rechargeable battery that will last several days, cell phone battery level on my wrist, countdown timer, etc, etc. Also very light, tough, comfortable, & looks good. Love it. The best smartwatch for now & probably for a long time.

It's nice that Samsung has launched an actual product. I'm certainly not buying the first iteration. But in two years the third iteration will be refined enough to be worth considering. And knowing Samsung, they'll launch different versions of the product and see which version sells best, then refine it further.

AMOLED? Why, FFS, would you want a watch on which you won't be able to see anything at all outdoors on a sunny day?

Because the way it uses power means it offers much more scope for leaving the display on permanently.

w00t? "because it drains battery, it can be on permanently"? Where is the logic in that. BTW. GalaxyGear turns off display quite fast, you need to press the button to even see the time. Instead of AMOLED, they should have used Mirasol.

There doesn't seem to be anything that they can do that the cellphone in my pocket doesn't do better.

It might not be the thing for you - not everything can be, accounting to personal taste and whatnot - but in my case, sure, it may not do much BETTER than a phone - except show you the time, because it's right there on your wrist and not in your pocket or in your handbag, manpurse etc, and you don't need to push a button for it to show you the time either.

However, that said, a smartwatch - properly implemented, of course, and this product looks rushed and not terribly well executed - would be a nice addition for someone like myself. I live in a country where the winter is long and cold and often quite nasty. Having to haul out my phone out of my jacket to do simple stuff is often unpleasant. If I could do those things on a watch on my wrist instead that'd be a great success in my book. Like I said, it would depend on the watch being well executed. Fortunately (well, maybe not right word), I have an iphone, and I trust apple enough to not release a ho-hum, cheap-looking smartwatch. Problem is, they might not release one this year. Or even ever.

I don't know if I'm in a minority or majority here, but I'm kind of missing the point of a smartwatch. There doesn't seem to be anything that they can do that the cellphone in my pocket doesn't do better.

I've always thought the same about ipads vs real computers, but millions of people keep shoveling money at apple for them. It's baffling.